India (December, 2016) – I remembered the oppressive heat the moment I stepped off the plane. Delhi was hot, humid, sticky... also busy, loud and a little chaotic. It was also exciting to be back immersed in the home of the ancestors, wandering the market's and peregrinating around some of the historical sites. On our way we stopped at the Agrasen ki Baoli, where somehow the midday sun, its heat and humidity, seemed acceptable to the ghostly Canadian wayfarers and hoards of other visitors wanting respite from mother nature.

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – We checked into our lodgings, just as the sun was setting behind the Itchan Kala walls. From inside the monumental walled city, we surveyed our surroundings before descending from the rooftop to explore before dark. Throughout our time in Khiva, I marvelled at the complicated structures of its adobe style construction and admired the glorious tiled details found in abundance. For the silk road enthusiasts, it's the place to be! 

India (December, 2016) – Often there are places close to home that hold great folkloric tales. In this particular case, "mythical" monster snakes and tangled roots that could swallow you up! It's also the community pond: used for bathing, for laundry, it's the spot for gossip, for horseplay. It's a gathering space holding epochs of generational stories, many including creatures circulating in the depths of the dark waters.

USA (September, 2016) – We spent a good part of the day wandering along the long stretch of the High-Line, amused by the artisan market and art installations, of the city view and of course people watching. Thinking back, that short sejour in New York holds so much more significance than I might have imagined almost a decade later.

France (March, 2022) – We took a walk along an old train passage, for a little meander in nature. The garden passage is still inclusive of a patch of railroad track and a single train car; now used as an educational centre. While rather overgrown with native plant species, the passage also hosts a few surprises. I was drawn to the shape of l'hôtel à insectes; the outer form reminded me of the archways of central and south Asia. While the inner sanctum seemed like a highly structured, yet organic architectural paradise for its mini guests. It provided fodder for the imagination. 

India (December, 2016) – I recognize the concept of street festivals happening outside one's habitation. However neighbourhood mela's in Kolkata take on a new meaning of crowded, the noise almost hypnotic, but also tantalizing and enchanting. It felt almost overnight the tranquil family abode and surrounding neighbourhood turned into a circus performance. The small congested laneways lined on both sides with vendors hawking anything you could possibly need. Just as fast as the fair appeared, it vanished without much trace, leaving behind the same tranquil space of the very nostalgic past.

Canada (February, 2021) – It had been a long stretch of isolation, leading to wild ideas. It was far beyond subzero; the lake frozen – glacial in appearance with stretches of unappealing ridged ice. The girls and I met up for a dog walk along the beachfront. I remember a joyful day, full of laughter, cackles and grins resulting in a few frozen fingers. It wasn't until I started to defrost that I could appreciate the scenery in its glory.